History has proven time and again that Porsche is a living legend on wheels. Some models have raced beyond the limits of speed and into the record books, with jaw-dropping auction prices that made headlines. In this article, the spotlight is on fifteen of the most unforgettable Porsches.
1970 Porsche 917K – Sold for $14,080,000
Movie buffs know this car from Le Mans, but collectors remember it for something else: a record-setting auction. At Gooding & Company’s 2017 Pebble Beach sale, the 1970 Porsche 917K fetched $14,080,000—then the highest price ever paid for a Porsche. It remains one of the most refined and revered race machines Porsche ever built.
1982 Porsche 956 – Sold for $10,120,000
When a car wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans, people notice. When it sells for over $10 million, they remember it forever. The 1982 Porsche 956, chassis 956-003, crossed the block at Gooding & Company in 2015 and stunned no one with its $10,120,000 final bid. It’s a true motorsport legend.
1997 Porsche 911 GT1 – Sold for $7,045,000
Race fans couldn’t miss it in the ’90s, and collectors certainly didn’t miss their shot when this one came up for sale. The 911 GT1 Rennversion was dressed in Rohr Racing livery and loaded with twin-turbo power, and sold for $7,045,000. There were only a handful ever built, so it’s basically a track-bred unicorn.
1956 Porsche 550 Rennsport Spyder – Sold for $6,121,200
Bonhams made headlines in 2015 when a remarkably untouched 1956 Porsche 550 Rennsport Spyder sold for over $6.1 million. Unlike most of its kind, this one never hit the track. That rare lack of racing scars preserved its originality—and sent its value sky-high.
1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar – Sold for $5,945,000
A 1985 Porsche 959 “Paris-Dakar” captured serious attention by selling for $5,945,000. Porsche built this specific car as one of three factory-supported entries for the grueling 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally, and rally legend René Metge took the wheel. It was one of only seven developmental prototypes ever made.
1972 Porsche 917/10 Spyder – Sold for $5,830,000
This turbocharged beast dominated an entire series. The 917/10 Spyder claimed five victories in the 1972 Can-Am season and secured the championship. When it rolled into the Mecum Monterey auction in 2012, it roared out with a winning bid of $5,830,000.
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion – Sold for $5,665,000
One of the rarest street-legal Porsches ever made, this 911 GT1 Strassenversion pulled in $5,665,000 at Gooding & Company’s 2017 auction. It was designed to satisfy racing homologation rules and blurred the line between racetrack and road. Fewer than 25 exist, so this sale is a once-in-a-lifetime win.
2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo – Sold for $5,615,000
The 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo stormed into the record books at the 2022 Pebble Beach Auction. This lightweight prototype racked up two outright wins and four class victories in its racing career. Under the sleek body sits a 3,397 cc Type MR6 V-8 engine.
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder – Sold for $5,335,000
This 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder stood out not just for its condition but for its famous former owner, Jerry Seinfeld. It fetched $5,335,000 at auction and broke records for the model. Its originality and sub-11,000-mile mileage made it a crown jewel among Porsche’s earliest race cars.
1958 Porsche 550A Spyder – Sold for $5,170,000
As a refined evolution of its predecessor, the 550A Spyder was faster, leaner, and more aggressive. One such example turned heads at Bonhams Scottsdale in 2018 and landed $5,170,000. The car has an impressive racing history and track-tuned engineering.
1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Werks – Sold for $5,120,000
Few Porsches have the credentials of this 1960 RS 60 Werks. It was built as one of only four factory team cars, and this one—chassis 718-044—earned $5,120,000 in Monterey. This RS 60 remains one of the rarest and fiercest competitors Porsche ever unleashed.
1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder – Sold for $4,400,000
Gooding & Company handed over a 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder for $4,400,000 in 2016, and what a machine it was. Porsche originally sold this monster to an Australian collector before it returned to Stuttgart for a fresh coat of the legendary blue, yellow, and red Sunoco colors.
1968 Porsche 911 R – Sold for $3,360,000
RM Sotheby’s made serious headlines at the 2021 Monterey Classics Auction when a 1968 Porsche 911 R, chassis 11899006R, sold for $3,360,000. Ferdinand Piech had Porsche build just 20 of these ultra-lightweight racers. This one kept its original magnesium-cased flat-six, steel unibody, and fiberglass panels.
1988 Porsche 959SC By Canepa – Sold for $2,920,000
When Porsche’s original 959 meets Bruce Canepa’s workshop, the result is something special. This reimagined 959SC, fine-tuned with more power and modern upgrades, sold for $2,920,000. It’s the best of both worlds: ‘80s tech with today’s performance.
1961 Porsche 718 RS61 Spyder – Sold for $2,750,000
This featherweight racer has real racing cred, including a top-10 finish at the 1961 Sebring 12 Hours. It was driven by Bob Donner and Don Wester and changed hands at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction for $2,750,000.